Lawrence Womack, Prescription Fraud, New York 2013
Islip Terrace doctor faces charges for prescription fraud, allegedly writing 241 prescriptions for opioids without legitimate medical need.
Lawrence Womack, a 48-year-old physician from Islip Terrace, New York, was sued by the United States in a civil action for his alleged role in the prescription fraud scheme.
Between January 2011 and June 2013, Womack allegedly wrote 241 prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, including oxycodone, methadone, and fentanyl, without any legitimate medical need. The complaint alleges that Womack disregarded patients' toxicology screens that indicated potentially lethal drug interactions.
According to the complaint, Womack conducted periodic breast examinations in exchange for continued prescriptions and/or increased amounts of opioids, including oxycodone. Oxycodone is a powerful and highly addictive drug that is increasingly abused due to its potency when crushed into a powder and ingested, leading to a heroin-like euphoria.
'Medical professionals who hand out prescriptions for narcotics in the absence of any legitimate medical need place the lives of their patients at risk and contribute to the scourge of prescription drug abuse in our communities,' stated Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
The United States' case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Diane C. Leonardo. The civil complaint alleges that Womack's actions were in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act.
The Prescription Drug Initiative, launched in January 2012, has brought over 160 federal and local criminal prosecutions, including the prosecution of 15 health care professionals, taken civil enforcement actions against a hospital, a pharmacy, and a pharmacy chain, removed prescription authority from numerous rogue doctors, and expanded information-sharing among enforcement agencies to better target and pursue drug traffickers.
The initiative is also involved in an extensive community outreach program to address the abuse of pharmaceuticals.
Defendant/respondent: Lawrence Womack.
Exact criminal charges: Issuing prescriptions without legitimate medical need.
City and state: Islip Terrace, New York.
Exact date: Between January 2011 and June 2013.
Sentence or outcome: Current status unknown.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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